Douna drone strike
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| Douna drone strike | |
|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |
| Location | Douna, Douentza Cercle, Mali |
| Date | March 22, 2024 10pm |
| Weapon | Bayraktar TB2 |
| Deaths | 14 |
| Injured | 9 |
| Perpetrator |  Malian Armed Forces |
On the night between March 22 and 23, 2024, a Malian Army Bayraktar TB2 drone struck a madrasa in the village of Douna, Douentza Cercle, Mali, killing fourteen children and injuring nine others. The drone strike came several days after another strike in Amasrakad killed fourteen civilians.
The Douentza Cercle where Douna is located has been a hub for the Katiba Serma, a jihadist group that is part of Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).[1] Douna itself is sometimes invaded by these jihadists, who are based in the Serma and Foulsare forests nearby.[2] The forests were closed to the population of Douna a week prior to the drone strike due to a Malian Army operation in the area.[3]
The Malian Army in recent months had also been launching indiscriminate drone strikes against civilian areas. On March 17, civilians in Amasrakad, Gao Region were hit by Malian drone strikes, killing 13 and injuring over a dozen others.[4] In February, Malian drone strikes targeted a wedding in Konokassi killing five people, and then killed five more when a funeral service was held for the wedding victims.[5]